SYDNEY 12HR

The race began at the rego tent after martin let me in the gate riding a very cool looking bike:)
Juliana was running the show in the rego tent handing out the numbers and cool yellow drink bottles while martin was doing his best to give away free mtb mags... "hello james elite solo for you" arghh do i have to..... "yes,, and guess what your number is??" hmmm i think back to earlier in my drive down to the race when i had visions of the number 1 plate... sure enough it was N0.1 the race clicked into gear and my week was forgotten my legs were ready and the target was getting brighter on my back for every step i took from that tent...

I set up my camp right along side the track neighbours with nobmob was great with the lighting they had,, and nearly the rockytrail show was here... http://www.burningtrails.com/ to see the episodes and post me a vote, ive made the top 3 and we can all vote again.. plzzz get chops to the croc...

i fiddle with my bike for quite a while trying to get my tyres right (i blew one off the rim earlier that day ouch!!!) i do wat i can strap some lights onn that i borrowed from a friend once i work out the ay-ups i was off to see the track... i rode the 1st half thinking 2moro is gona be brutal it was so rough... at the halfway i couldnt go on as the smell of food was to convincing..

I awoke at 6ish in my tent i never really woke up with the race day buzz, or with what layed ahead even on mine, was i not concerned or was it the unkown distance, but i just went about my usual race prep...i definalety stayed in my trackies and skins as long as i could.
Riding around wearing bright pink and having the number one plate definately turned a few heads but i just went about my biz, it was good to catch up with all the other riders i know before the race and i even got a sneak peak at the start list as the mc was from the central coast, it made me feel better as there was no big (well known elite) names on the list...This race could go to anyone... we roll down to the start it wasnt real friendly(but still no nerves am i used to this racing bizo) before anyone really expected we were told the race was on and most of us woddled the first 5m up the fire road clipped in and took on the climb, i caught up with anthony on a nice white 29er who was in a 2man with his gf. setting a good pace i thought and i was hoping to ride quite conservitaly with some flu bug i had i just had no idea how my body was going to.. id lost my voice 2days earlier so i apologies to the ppl i didnt get to ask track to and the thankyous i missed i was very hard to talk at times..
My legs dialed in the pace they wanted and if it took me to the end i would be happy no matter where i finished... lap after lap after lap goes by..

Ithink it was about lap 6 when my right leg starts to ache tight right glute and itband which then f###ks your knee,,, sigh so i get off for a stretch and start walking the rocky climbs which really helped my situation... by this stage charli is out on the track racing the GP4hour so i was keeping an eye our for another pink jersy and a big smile..

So the help from Vanina and Kath was highly appreciated felt pretty special these enduro queens working on my bike and shoving food into me.. more laps>>>>>>>>>more hills more powerbars more bottles dranked...

i come into transition to see charli there,, in tears because of an 8cm gash in her arm so a few hugs and tears and phone calls later everyone was smiling again..so i loaded up, i think this was were i had a spoonful of jam straight from the jar..it goes down easy lol.. more laps>>>>>more pain in the right leg..

The sun goes down and the lights get fired up... feeling pretty good about myself as i was still riding past any time i have ever spent on a mountain bike, and still enjoying my specialized epic my hand were definately past the hurting stage but just gotta soldier on to get the job done and chase the poduim.. i heard i was in 3rd so the game just got a whole lot more important..
somewhere into the night i caught up to shane to unlap myself i think and we rode about 2laps together having a good chat and then he got away when i pulled in for another stretch.

By now im doing sums in my head to what i have left i check with timing and im informed there is 55mins ago sigh, prob means two laps, so i crawled around knowing 4th place is not to far behined hoping he would catch me so we could sprint to the line and call it a night... i get to the finish line and stop before i cross it to think about my options, talking with charli and some solid intel and advice from craig armour so i rolled through timing and sat there changed a battery and sucked down some gels.. with paul craft as mc he had the crowd on edge and created such an awesome atmosphere, i kept a close eye on the trail for dreggsy...60sec to go no dreggsy..
here comes some lights so really with all the riders out there wat are the chances...IT WAS HIM..

My head drops and my legs powered up.. showdown time!!! i attacked the fire road climb and did the fastest lap in the last 70km to ride into 3rd place...

well done dave and shane for taking 1st and 2nd.
And a big thanks to everyone that helped me pack up, i was pretty out of it and charli being injured, your help made our lives so much easier. off to hospital and charli had to stay in over night, so i slogged it back home and got there at 330am.. i was up by 730am had breaky and went to ourimbah for the club round... talk about having nothing i was over taken by b grade and lapped by a grade.. but i did wat i could to get some points... back to syd to the hospital and pick up charli's car she got all stitched up we went out for dinner which was much needed it was my 1st real meal since thurs... i ordered lamb chops :) so tasty..

well that was a story.. sorry for bad typing im so tired its late on a thurs night and ive already done 6spin classes.. my right leg is still troubling me hopefully a massage 2moro will fix things so i can get ready for the state round on sunday were im coming second in the points standing so its a showdown against micheal vanos.. winner takes the series... should be a blast..

thanks for reading, hit follow on your way out...

chops:)

l think i need a new name for the blog it seem ive made it back to the poduim after being ER..